# Let the poor woman die already! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 17, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029 "2005-03-17T19:11:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/81 "2005-03-18T16:57:14Z")
**Duffer, Abbie Carmichael** , if, God forbid, I should ever wind up in a PVS, stay the hell out of my state until I’m gone!. Fellow Dopers, I ask your help with this. You see, while I don’t have a living will, I have something possibly more effective from what I’ve read: friends and family who agree with me that we don’t want anyone taking extraordinary measures. Unfortunately, even that may be enough if doctors are determined to override the wishes of family and friends. I’ll say it here and now for all the teeming millions to read: **If I ever wind up in a PVS, my swallowing and breathing reflexes shot, I will come back and _haunt_ anyone who tries does to me what Terry Schiavo’s parents have done to her!** I mean it. I realize that technically Christians aren’t supposed to be able to haunt people, but I’ll try to talk God into making an exception. 😉 You know, I really do think her parents mean well and it is sad. Still, 15 years is a long time to be in denial. I don’t presume to know when the soul enters the body or when it leaves it. I don’t know if Terry Schiavo’s soul is still tied to her body, although, if it is, I could think of few worse nightmares. Folks, I’ve had a good run of things. If I get knocked into a coma tonight on my way home, there isn’t much I’ll regret, although there are some of you I would like to meet. Still, when my time is up, it’s up and I can’t see the sense in keeping my body alive if my mind is gone. Salvage what you can from the organs, although my eyes do require bifocals and the others also have some miles on them, and let the rest go. The past 15 years must have been a nightmare of pain, grief, and anger for the parents, but merely keeping a tube shoved down their daughter’s throat won’t end it. Let her go. Please. Oh, by the way, it’s my understanding that Michael Schiavo didn’t take up with the new woman until some years after this happened. If I were Terry, I’d be glad to see him happy. CJ ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/82 "2005-03-18T17:00:19Z")
This is truly a tragic situation. The only one I have complete empathy with is the poor woman. The parents seem to in denial, the medical evidence seems overwhelming that there is no hope for any recovery whatsoever. After 15 years, it seems only logical to accept that she’s gone. Legally, it should be the husband’s call as next of kin. I’m a wee bit bothered that he’s found a new love, but if the legal system hadn’t stepped in he would have been a widower long ago. Until one walks in his shoes, you can’t judge him. The legal system has done her a great disservice by keeping this going for so long. It should have been decided, one way or another, long ago. The only sure thing I see in the whole situation is that we should all have living wills. It’s a lot to ask of a young person to contemplate this scenario, but if this was truly her wish it would have been a lot easier on all around if it was in writing. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/83 "2005-03-18T17:19:39Z")
OK now we _know_ the family is just fucking nuts. [http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/03/18/schiavo.brain-damaged/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/03/18/schiavo.brain-damaged/index.html) > [@](#): > > A House committee subpoenaed the brain-damaged woman to appear before Congress next week, and **Schiavo’s family was “hopeful” the brain-damaged woman would make that appearance in Washington** , an attorney for her parents said Friday. Are they going to roll her in there Lector style with glassy eyes and a little line of drool dribbling off her chin? How sick are these assholes? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/84 "2005-03-18T17:20:41Z")
> [@lorinada](#): > > So, what, \*\*\*15 years \*\* \* has not been long enough? Give them another month or two? If “therapy” is all she needed, what have they been doing the last 15 years? Her shitstain husband refused to permit therapy. Her parents wanted to give it a go but since they had no rights, his decision ruled. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/85 "2005-03-18T17:24:33Z")
> [@The Chao Goes Mu](#): > > Her shitstain husband refused to permit therapy. Her parents wanted to give it a go but since they had no rights, his decision ruled. Go read post #55 ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/86 "2005-03-18T17:26:09Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > Are they going to roll her in there Lector style with glassy eyes and a little line of drool dribbling off her chin? How sick are these assholes? That’s an incredibly disturbing image, but I wouldn’t put it past them. It would probably have a drasically different impact than they’re hoping for though. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/87 "2005-03-18T17:26:30Z")
> [@The Chao Goes Mu](#): > > Her shitstain husband refused to permit therapy. Her parents wanted to give it a go but since they had no rights, his decision ruled. Once again… **CITE???** And once again, [terrisfight.org](http://terrisfight.org) doesn’t count as a cite. ---
**Author:** ![Good\_Egg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Good\_Egg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Good_Egg)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/88 "2005-03-18T17:33:35Z")
This just in-tube not coming out today. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/89 "2005-03-18T17:43:31Z")
Refused to allow care huh? From my post and the [cite](http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=590336&page=1) contained therein. > [@](#): > > When doctors determined that Terri had entered a persistent vegetative state, Michael flew Terri to California for experimental surgical treatments, sleeping on a cot in her hospital room. > > Even after doctors in California determined surgery would do nothing to help Terri, Michael continued to seek help. He admitted Terri to a Florida brain-injury center and hired an aide to take her out to parks and museums, in the hope it might stimulate her reawakening. It didn’t. Course, he must’ve just done this over a weekend to make it look good before he went back to smacking her brainless body around. :rolleyes: It’s not even comprehendable that he may have wanted to make sure that there was no chance of her recovering before he filled her wishes. Good golly no :rolleyes: This must’ve been his dastardly plan all along. What’s really funny is how many people are bashing Michael Schiavo and completely ignoring all of the testimony of the doctors done in all of the court proceedings that have examined Terry and have stated under oath that Terry ain’t Terry no more. Meanwhile the parents can only bring the testimony of doctors who have only seen an _edited_ video tape and haven’t examined her in person. Must’ve paid the court appointed doctors to get the results he wanted. What a mastermind he is. :rolleyes: And now the fucking parents are thrilled to death to parade their daughter in front of fucking congress. What the hell is that going to do? It’s fucking sick! What the fuck business does congress have pulling this shit? Are they going to run her through the same battery of tests that they ran Strom Thurmand through every day? Gonna take her for a spin through the congressional CAT scan? Lastly **duffer** , is it possible that he’s remained married to Terry in order to carry her wishes out? I honestly can’t think of a reason why he would stay in the fight this long otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/90 "2005-03-18T17:43:35Z")
> [@Jeep's Phoenix](#): > > That’s an incredibly disturbing image, but I wouldn’t put it past them. It would probably have a drasically different impact than they’re hoping for though. My thoughts exactly. They’re going to roll this poor woman into a Congressional hearing room, strapped to a chair, and its going to reflect more poorly on Congress than anything else could. Any shred of dignity she may have had left is no gone. If I were Michael Schiavo I’d prepare a one sentice opening statement: “You asked her here - go ahead ask her all the questions you want.” ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/91 "2005-03-18T17:48:18Z")
> [@Good Egg](#): > > This just in-tube not coming out today. Bah ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/92 "2005-03-18T17:54:07Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > This is truly a tragic situation. The only one I have complete empathy with is the poor woman. The parents seem to in denial, the medical evidence seems overwhelming that there is no hope for any recovery whatsoever. After 15 years, it seems only logical to accept that she’s gone. Legally, it should be the husband’s call as next of kin. I’m a wee bit bothered that he’s found a new love, but if the legal system hadn’t stepped in he would have been a widower long ago. Until one walks in his shoes, you can’t judge him. The legal system has done her a great disservice by keeping this going for so long. It should have been decided, one way or another, long ago. Completely agree. All the morons who are saying that the husband is just in it for the money, are you finally willing, after being shown mountains of evidence, to take your feet out of your mouths and acknowledge that there has been no financial windfall for the guy out of all this? And to the people who are constantly implying—or saying outright—that his current partner is just some casual fuck that he jumped on as soon as his wife was in the hospital, you are complete idiots. As other have pointed out, he didn’t take up with this woman until fully five years after his wife’s condition began, and he has two kids with this woman. But even if we accept every idiotic claim being made about the husband, the fact is that he is right. Even if he is right for all the wrong reasons, he is still right—this poor woman should not be kept alive any longer just to keep her fucking freakshow of a family happy. And an extra “fuck you” to [Bill Frist](http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N17152927.htm). > [@](#): > > Several lawmakers described her as disabled but very much alive. Frist, a doctor who has seen video of Schiavo, called her a “living person who has a level of consciousness, but cannot feed herself.” Diagnosis by video. Nice one, dipshit. Of course, this is the same doctor who still asserts that HIV might be transmitted by human tears. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/93 "2005-03-18T17:58:08Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > And an extra “fuck you” to [Bill Frist](http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N17152927.htm).Diagnosis by video. Nice one, dipshit. > > Of course, this is the same doctor who still asserts that HIV might be transmitted by human tears. I second your fuck you, Frist is a quack fool. WTF is up with the tears thing? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/94 "2005-03-18T18:01:27Z")
I cannot believe the lack of dignity and caring. She has become a pawn for the right-to-lifers, who care not a jot or a tittle about _quality_ of life. It’s the ulitmate invasion of the gov’t into a woman’s right to choose…in this case, her right not to have to “live” this way. It’s been delayed so a judge can sort all this mess out. I think if the Congressmen are that interested, they can haul their asses down to Florida and visit her themselves, instead of demanding that she appear before them in a hearing. I mean, for crying out loud! Have we lost all sense of reason here? ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/95 "2005-03-18T18:08:31Z")
Seeing the news articles today has convinced me to go get a living will made. It was something my husband’s lady relative had urged me to do as well before she died. The latest developments, combined with the news that I might have fibroids on my ovaries, (which will likely mean surgery to remove them) has brought this about. The chances that I could get hit by one of this town’s wreckless drivers are enough, that I don’t want to risk it. I don’t think my parents would do as Terri’s parents are, but I sure as hell don’t want the government telling my husband that he has to keep me alive, after I’ve been determined to be brain dead. I want him to be able to let me go in peace, with dignity and privacy. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/96 "2005-03-18T18:27:19Z")
ABC News is reporting that a judge had denied Congressional requests to review the case. The tube can be pulled. Now, of course, that ruling will be appealed. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/97 "2005-03-18T18:35:29Z")
[Link](http://abcnews.go.com/). It’s the BREAKING NEWS banner. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/98 "2005-03-18T18:35:53Z")
> [@Zabali\_Clawbane](#): > > Seeing the news articles today has convinced me to go get a living will made. Good for you. But make sure your friends and family know your wishes as well. Living wills are not, unfortunately, watertight. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/99 "2005-03-18T18:38:25Z")
I still won’t believe it until she’s legally pronounced dead. They’ll either find a delay, or they’ll manage to have it reinserted within the next few days. I hope when Terri does eventually die, her spirit comes back and kicks the asses of everyone who used her like this. It’s disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029/100 "2005-03-18T18:40:10Z")
[More info about the judge’s ruling to allow the tube to be pulled.](http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050318/D88TI4JG2.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-poor-woman-die-already/295029.md?page=6)